British Apple Boom and Government Climate Change Failings

British Apples Boom

English Apples & Pears (EAP), the trade body that represents apple growers in the UK, has predicted a boom in apple production this year, with more varieties available all year-round.

The organisation puts the bumper crop down to an investment of £120 million over the last ten years into research and technology, as well as the planting of over 8 million new trees.

The investment has been in traditional British varieties such as Braeburn, Gala and Bramley, as well as new apple varieties like Jazz, Cameo and Kentish Kiss to make British apples available throughout the year.

EAP Executive Chair Ali Capper said: 'We’re not only focused on ensuring that great quality, nutritious and delicious British apples are available to consumers throughout the year, our industry also supports an environmentally-friendly way of living. After all, our home-grown apples and pears have not been shipped across the world to get to us. They’re grown right here.'

At the moment, only two in five apples consumed in the UK are grown here, but with the continued investment the organisation are confident they can bring this number to three in five by 2030, taking us one step closer to apple self-sufficiency.

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Climate Change Failings

The UK is 'lagging far behind' in curbing greenhouse gas emissions to meet targets, official government advisors warn.

In a new report, the Committee on Climate Change has said that the government has delivered only one of 25 critical policies they advised last year, while there has been no good progress in 33 sectors that address managing the risks associated with climate change.

The report also states that the annual rate of emissions reduction for Net Zero is 50% higher than under the UK's previous 2050 target and 30% higher than has been achieved on average since 1990.

Lord Deben, CCC Chairman, said: 'The UK is the first major economy to set a net-zero emissions target and intends to host the world’s leaders at next year’s landmark climate conference (COP26). These are historic steps forward and position the UK at the forefront of the global low-carbon transition.

'But international ambition does not deliver domestic action. It’s time for the Government to show it takes its responsibilities seriously. Reducing emissions to net zero by 2050 requires real action by the Government now.'

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